HMLTD: West of Eden review – riotous rock and grand guignol glam
The London band throw together glam, goth, electro, Kurt Weill … and have even added conventional pop to the mix
Beatrice Dillon: Workaround review – a global future-folk manifesto
These exuberant electronic experiments in mixing 150bpm dub-techno with live instrumentation fizz with the joy of artistic creation
La Roux: Supervision review – obliquely beautiful, contrarian electro visionary
(Supercolour Records) Her second release as a solo artist sees 80s pop muted though Elly Jackson’s idiosyncratic and unique sound palette
La Roux review – synth star throws a joyously sleazy blowout
A tricky live setup can’t prevent Elly Jackson from laying on a display of mesmerising pop that leaves the crowd eating out of her hand
Elon Musk’s new EDM single reviewed – ‘Bringing erectile dysfunction to the masses!’
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has dropped Don’t Doubt Ur Vibe on Soundcloud – a wannabe dancefloor banger that somehow manages to doubt its own vibe
Squarepusher: Be Up a Hello review – devilish, danceable return
Tom Jenkinson goes back to his mid-90s moniker and makes use of old electronic hardware in a fun, if bumpy, ride
Nicolas Godin: Concrete and Glass review – a pretty facade on shaky foundations
The former Air member’s second solo album is a paean to various architects the veers between elegant and insipid
070 Shake: Modus Vivendi review – an impressive statement of intent
(GOOD Music/Virgin EMI)
Mura Masa: Raw Youth Collage review – confused and bitty
You can’t accuse the 23-year-old Guernsey producer Mura Masa of false advertising. Raw Youth Collage, his second album, is bitty and a little raw – notably Deal Wiv It, a persuasive 2019 track in which the punkoid exclamations of slowthai … Continue reading
Poppy: I Disagree review – candyfloss pop with a dark heart
Real name Moriah Pereira, Poppy is a YouTube-born character who has been described as both an alien and a cult leader (she has, of course, released a book, The Gospel of Poppy). I Disagree is her third studio album, and … Continue reading
Mura Masa: RYC review – so mediocre, it’s not even entertainingly bad
Clairo, Tirzah and Slowthai and other guests can’t polish the turds on producer Alex Crossan’s profoundly awful second album
Georgia: Seeking Thrills review – a bold British hymn to hedonism
The singer and producer has absorbed Chicago house, Robyn-style pop and dub reggae, and refashioned them into an album about being ‘consumed by night’
Sault: 5 / 7 review – intriguing grooves from a mystery funk machine
No one seems to know who they are, but one thing is sure: Sault make hooky, dubby, funky music with echoes of ESG and Can
Alabama 3 review – raucous ravers soak up mashup outlaws’ sin and soul
This was a rambunctious wake for founding member Jake Black – with their Sopranos’ theme a high point among club and country meldings
St Vincent/Nina Kraviz: Masseduction Rewired review – fragmented yet magnetic
Russian producer Kraviz moves St Vincent’s 2017 album through a variety of gloomy musical lenses, from footwork to dub